History
KnowledgeWorks Foundation was created in 1998 as a charitable foundation through the reorganization of the Student Loan Funding Corporation. With more than $200 million in assets, KnowledgeWorks Foundation is Ohio's largest public education philanthropy.

Our Operating Philosophy
KnowledgeWorks Foundation is dedicated to removing barriers to education for all individuals. We believe in universal access to educational opportunities for individuals to achieve success and for the betterment of society. This is best accomplished through real collaboration with public and private entities. We provide funding, participation and leadership for education initiatives throughout Ohio.

Why We Conducted this Poll
KnowledgeWorks Foundation looks for ways to offer practical solutions to tough problems. A cornerstone of this effort is to understand and engage the public into the problem-solving process, which is why KnowledgeWorks Foundation has sponsored this poll. The public's thoughts and opinions are used in several ways. First, opinions from this poll help inform public policy by helping decision-makers better understand Ohio's needs and the best alternatives to meeting these needs. Second, the poll allows us to test our concepts and priorities with those of the public, allowing us to create, validate or modify programs and to assure they are relevant and effective. Third, polling creates a baseline against which we can measure ensuing progress.

This is the fourth year of KnowledgeWorks Foundation operations and second year of polling. As with the 2000-01 poll, this research has provided several key insights and lessons that we will be using throughout the year in the following areas of focus and action.

Areas of Focus and Action

College & Career Access
KnowledgeWorks Foundation believes that every Ohioan needs to engage in education and training beyond high school not only for their own individual development but also in support of Ohio's economic future. The Foundation is committed to ensuring that Ohioans - both high school aged and adults - have the information and financial resources they need to access postsecondary education and training. Moreover, the Foundation is committed to promoting innovative practices that focus on transition and completion for populations underrepresented in postsecondary programs.

The primary goal of the Access to Postsecondary Education and Training program area is for Ohio to have postsecondary educational opportunity at all levels-apprenticeship, certificate, associate, or bachelor's degree-that will enable any Ohioan to access and complete chosen learning beyond high school and throughout their lives.

The Accessing Postsecondary Education and Training program area originates from the merger of the Foundation's College Access and Postsecondary Education for Low-wage Workers program areas. Strategic planning revealed various areas of overlap between the two former program areas especially in terms of promoting and increasing access to postsecondary education for underrepresented populations.

School Facilities Planning & Design
More than half of Ohio's schools are 50 years old or older. To remedy the situation, the State of Ohio has proposed a plan to spend more than $23 billion on new school construction over the next 12 years, allocating $10.2 billion to school construction, matched by $12.9 billion in local dollars. KnowledgeWorks Foundation will support community engagement initiatives to improve the school facilities planning processes and ensure that the substantial amount of local and state funds are used effectively by: (1) infusing the local planning process with information about the impact of school facilities on learning outcomes, and (2) promoting the concept of "schools as centers of community," where school district leadership involves the community in school facility planning and school buildings have multiple uses for the benefit of the community 3) infusing the local planning process with information about the impact of school facilities on learning outcomes. The Foundation does not promote any particular blueprint or process. Rather, its aim is to improve the planning process through unique public/private partnerships.

School Improvement
Students in Ohio's urban schools demonstrate serious shortcomings in their academic performance. The Foundation's school improvement seek to address the challenges of our schools, redesign them based upon the findings of research and best practice, and focus energies and resources to ensure that all Ohio urban youth are able to meet state standards, graduate, and have the option of pursuing postsecondary education. KnowledgeWorks Foundation focuses on developing learning environments in urban schools where all students learn effectively in an atmosphere of high expectations.

The program goal for KnowledgeWorks Foundation's school improvement is to see urban schools change so dramatically over the next five years (and produce such dramatic improvements in student performance outcomes), that the conventional wisdom on how schools are designed and organized will be radically changed. The Foundation will then be looked to for guidance and leadership in helping policymakers and districts across the country fundamentally alter the context and delivery of quality education for at-risk urban students.

• to promote systems change leading to improved post-secondary educational opportunities for low-wage workers through Ohio's community colleges;
• to promote collaborative efforts among Ohio's community college campuses and government, community-based organizations and/or businesses that address the unique education needs of low-wage workers; and
• to assist the local efforts with the best available models and research about community college programs geared toward low-wage working adults.